Gazing at this charming house, can you believe it is a scaled-down replica of a famous poet’s home? This is the Longfellow House. Not the original home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, but a fascinating tribute. It stands here in Minneapolis, a testament to one man’s admiration.
The Longfellow House is a 2/3-scale version of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s house in Cambridge, Massachusetts. But, Longfellow never lived here. He died in 1882. This house was built in 1907.
Meet Robert “Fish” Jones. He was a Minneapolis businessman with a passion. He admired Longfellow. Jones commissioned this replica. “Fish” Jones was known for his fish market. He later created the Longfellow Zoological Gardens. The Longfellow House became part of his gardens.
Jones ran the Longfellow Zoological Gardens until complaints arose. Residents didn’t appreciate the zoo. Jones agreed to give the house to the city. Sadly, he died in 1930 before completing the transaction.
For four years, the Longfellow House sat vacant. Then, the Park Board stepped in. They offered it to the Minneapolis Public Library. The library purchased it for $1,500. The community helped raise $500 of that amount. In 1937, the Longfellow Community Library opened.
The library thrived for years. But, television’s popularity caused a decline in circulation. Adults were the demographic that fell the most. Still, the library persevered. In 1967, a new library was authorized. It was to be built in the nearby Wenonah neighborhood. In 1968, Longfellow closed its doors. The Nokomis Community Library opened. It instantly doubled Longfellow’s circulation numbers.
The Longfellow House fell into disrepair. It even served as a haunted house attraction called “Ghost Manor” for a time. This was during the early 1980s. In 1994, Hiawatha Avenue was expanded. The Longfellow House had to be moved.
The house was moved to its current location. It was reconnected with Minnehaha Park. The Kodet Architectural Group renovated it. The moving process even won an award. In 2001, the Longfellow House reopened. It became an interpretive information center.
Today, the Longfellow House serves as a traveler’s information center. It is an interpretive learning center. It also serves as an exhibition facility. It provides information about Minnehaha Falls. It also provides information about the Minneapolis Grand Rounds.
So, while Henry Wadsworth Longfellow never set foot here, his legacy lives on. The Longfellow House stands as a unique landmark. It represents a blend of admiration, community spirit, and a little bit of Minneapolis history. A quirky monument. A reminder that inspiration can take many forms.